I mentioned in that post I intended to torture
them before they got my money. We settled last Friday. My file had some twenty
pages.

The rationale for traffic citations is to
change the scofflaw’s driving habits and attitude. That may be true for some
officers, they being the ones who deal with the physical carnage, but for the
courts it is all about revenue. Example. In Weld County, CO should you be
ordered by the courts to perform xxxxx hours of “useful public service”, you
can take the hours times the prevailing minimum wage, write a check, and walk
away. (Yes, I know because I’ve done it – thirty over reduced to driving faster
than road conditions, and many, many
benjis)

My torture program, over time, involved
three city attorneys, a judge and recorder, several clerks and summons to court
for the officers involved. Yes, I know the officers get paid. Yes, I know that
involves scheduling problems. Since I settled the matter four days before the
court date my bet is the clerks didn’t notify the officers in a timely manner
and they will show up tomorrow.

Remember I said it was all about revenue?
My original fine went from $155 to $172. Points against my license went from
four to two.

I may not have the negotiating skills of
an attorney. Several decades of sales and the car biz left me with some. Along
with those, I’m seldom intimidated.

Very well WSF you are saying. What about
all the time you spent? Hell, I’m semi retired. Time spent doing this kept me
out of bars.

Well, never had those type of marching orders. The revenue goes to the city general fund. Police departments don't get that back to the department. Their budgets are determined the year prior and have no wiggle room. The courts don't get that as revenue either.

I am glad you fought the law and The Man. I am sad you didn't get full dismissal. Erg. Or just brownie points for court arguments to make them think twice and a dismissal. Of course, I would not have written the ticket.

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About Me

Semi retired road warrior, car salesman, occasional repo man. Father of three fine sons. Once a Blue Dog Democrat. Once a soldier; once a pilot. Rolling along life's highway proving there is no fool like an old fool.